Ireland - June 18

Today we grabbed a quick breakfast in Buttery - the school cafeteria - before heading to our classroom for the day.  I felt fairly revived after a good night sleep, and really enjoyed the guest lecturers we had.  We were fortunate enough to have numerous CEO's of successful Irish companies speak to us, and they were all very friendly and open about their challenges and what's worked and what hasn't.  That's one thing I've noticed here - the culture seems to be more open and humble...tell it like it is regarding struggles, and downplay success to a certain extent.  The speakers (including our professor) were all really good and delivered points that made me think...I can't even begin to spell it all out, but following are a few of the things that stuck out most to me and I will be pondering the next few days:

• How much "change" has to do with "leadership."  If you're not leading some sort of change, chances are you're simply managing, not really leading.
• Being aware of your own insecurities it vital for good leaders, because if you allow your own insecurities to run you (your decisions, responses, etc), you will never be able to bring out the best in others.
• Good leaders are not victims.  They don't blame circumstances (or other people).  They take their teams and make them something special (somewhat like how some NFL coaches turn their group of players into superbowl winners, despite most teams having pretty good talent and a few not-so-great players).
• "Leadership is the ability and the willingness to influence others so that they respond willingly."  James Clawson.  It's not about forcing your team to comply with what you want done...it's about obtaining true commitment so they willingly support the vision.
• Are you a net giver or a net taker of energy?
• A good leader holds up a mirror in a way that helps people see themselves in a way they haven't before...the good and the bad...but then focuses on the strengths and how to maximize them.
• Many young leaders' (or wanna-be leaders) blind spot is "Not knowing what they don't know."  Many know what they do know, and some even know what they don't know...but few are willing to accept that there are things they may not have even thought about not knowing yet.  Ask questions - probe!
• One of the biggest indicators of whether someone is a good leader or not is how they deal with adversity.  Are they a victim, constantly blaming others/things?  Do they get all worked up and make snap, poor decisions?  Or do they remain calm and really allow themselves to learn from their challenges and be present through them?
• A good leader has a team that pushes back - they don't manipulate them into fearful agreement or yes-men.  That doesn't do anyone any good.  
• Are you an easy person to help?
• "People are inherently good and want to do good work.  If you start with that belief, 95% of the time it's true and you get the best our of people.  Then you just have to deal with the 5%.  If you're going to be a successful leader, you have to be an optimist and look for the good.  If you're constantly looking for something to be wrong, it will be.  You'll make it so even if it's not."  Alan Looney
• "All successful people make sacrifices.  What will yours be?" Kieran Daly

I'm sure I'll have some more coherent idea of how this all fits with me after I've slept a bit more...

After a full day of sessions, we had dinner at The Porterhouse Central and then met and mingled with some graduate marketing students from University College Dublin.

Our class at dinner

A few little things I noted today:

• They're not all like this, but the sinks in the dorm have separate faucets for hot and cold water.  So unless you want to fill the sink up and dip from there (which I didn't), you cup your hands and get some cold water, then add a bit of hot, and splash it on your face before it all seeps out.
• Irish drop pronounce "th" as "t."  So "three" becomes "tree," and so on.
• People are very friendly.

The last two observances are better shown than just told:

Soccer is important to play anywhere...even on the tennis court

Hair straighteners are available in the women's restroom at the Porterhouse.  You know, just in case you need to touch up your hair while you're at dinner.  And no, I did not make an progress on Lia's hair...

As I washed up tonight, I pondered how fortunate I am to be here - to be in a situation where I get to participate in a truly international course like this with these people in this country.  I'm quite thankful for that, and will continue to take the opportunity to make lifelong memories.